Dutch startup Marine Metals tarts testing their solution for circular ship dismantling
For years it has been known that a solution is needed to process large ocean-going vessels at the end of their lives in a sustainable and safe manner. Always less responsible alternatives were more attractive due to the much lower costs. The Dutch startup Marine Metals is going to change that.
In fact, Marine Metals is developing a pioneering solution to dismantle ocean-going vessels in a circular, safe and competitive way. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Marine Metals and technology partner Huisman from Schiedam will test the first prototype of the wire saw, the key component of the innovative technology. After that, Marine Metals and a consortium of partners and investors will develop the first yard on which actual ships can be dismantled. The development of the solution is made possible by the support of leading investors such as Sojitz Corporation and Jansen Recycling, with funding from the European Union’s Opportunities for West grant.
With this development, Marine Metals offers a solution to the controversial practice of “beaching” ships in Asia, whereby ships are scrapped under dangerous and polluting conditions. Moreover, Marine Metals’ solution provides a crucial element for making steel production more sustainable, namely high-quality clean scrap. By automating dismantling, speeding up and reducing the use of labor, the process becomes circular, safe and competitive. This makes it possible to efficiently extract high-grade steel scrap from ships in accordance with strict European recycling standards.
